Anybody who dives in Thailand should seriously give some thought about coming to Koh Lanta and joining a day boat, a Liveaboard or even a sailing boat to enjoy diving at its very best.
Koh Ha Lagoon
I have just dived Koh Ha for the millionth time and again just had one of the best dives of my life. I like the clear warm waters and Koh Ha has an abundance of marine life and corals for the beginner to the professional to enjoy! You can view Nudibranch’s, Turtles, Barracuda, Lionfish, Clown Fish, Moray Eels, Cuttlefish the list is endless and will fill up anyone’s log book.
Seamoth found in Koh Ha Lagoon
For me tho I like the smaller unique creatures and Koh Lanta seems to deliver every time. Where else can you find Devil Scorpiofish, Indian Walkmans, Ghostpipefish, Seamoths, and sometimes Seahorse’s and Harlequin Shrimp all on the same dive.
This very small Ghostpipe fish was great to see
Below are 2 videos of the Seamoths and Ghostpipe Fish. They are very small and unique and both videos where taken in 10 meters of water which makes it great that every diver can get to see.
The Seamoths are always found in pairs and walking around the bottom together. Look at the the one in the back with a bigger nose. One must be a female and the other a male. They where filmed in 4 meters of water which make’s it great for a safety stop. The only problem is tho the do move around and are very hard to spot so your dive guide may need a little time to locate them.
The Ornate Ghostpipe likes to hang vertically in a bush. Its camouflage and colour nearly make it impossible to find. This one is a very small one and hopefully it will hang around for a few months. It’s always nice when you spot something so small and unique. It was also taken in 10 meters of water which makes it perfect for every diver to view.
If your looking for picture post card beaches and warm crystal clear water then Koh Rok snorkeling by speedboat is not to be missed. Its especially great for all the family.
I got a one day trip by speedboat from Koh Lanta which departed at 8.am and returned around 3:30. What I really liked about the trip was you get picked up directly in front of your resort on the beach ( obviously weather permitting) This is a great way to start the tour.
Video showing the beautifull Koh Rok Tour
After we headed down Koh Lanta’s stunning coast line picking up all the guests. Travelling to Koh Rok from the south of Koh Lanta Takes around 45 minutes. When you arrive the view is pretty breathtaking with unbelievable clear waters and spectacular beaches lining the Islands.
We got to snorkel 3 times at different locations around the Island for 45 minutes each time. You are provided with a variety of mask sizes, fins and even life jackets for the people who can not swim as well.
In between we went on to the beach for around 2 hours to enjoy the prepared lunch and fruit. It’s unbelievable how Snorkeling makes you so hungry! Some people walked along the beach and found some shade to enjoy. I went snorkeling again straight off the beach with my daughter – just 10 feet away from the beach you can see little Nemo! its simply brilliant for all the family.
Please remember tho to cover up!
I am like many other tourists burnt to a crisp ( my own fault )
A few days ago I buddied up with Brendan and we dove together for a 4 day dive package. Not only does this work out cheaper in the long run but its great as you can take a break in between and not get tired.
Brendan also took a Noitrox Course with Go Dive on Koh Lanta and as we where the only one’s diving with Nitrox we could take our time and explore other parts of the reef where normally I don’t reach.
Now Brendan has been very lucky with getting to view mating Cuttlefish at Hin Daeng, Black Tip Sharks around Koh Phi Phi, Leopard Sharks at Koh Bida, Ghostpipe Fish at Koh Ha, not forgetting Turtles, Barracuda, Lion Fish, Seasnakes, and Nemo!
However the best surprise came after we where about to finish a dive. I noticed allot of fusiliers coming towards the reef in a hurry so I glanced up. A second later my heart was pumping as I signaled to Brendan that in front swimming past was a Whale Shark!
Whale Shark spotted at Koh Ha
So we both quickly left the reef and followed staying at around 19 meters deep, luckily we where diving Nitrox so we could stay deep with it. Then we had to back peddle as the Whale shark turned and swam directly at us. WOW! is all I can say. Also we where very lucky as we where the only one’s who got to see the Whale Shark.
Whale Shark slowly swimming past
Normally no one would have believed us except Brendan had his camera. He wrote me a nice thank you note and also sent me his photo’s which we can see. Thank you!
The diving was so good he also signed up for a 5th day.
Hi Rob
Just a quick email to thank you for the 5 days of diving I did with you & GO Dive, you and the team looked after me brilliantly. The whole experience was very chilled out, relaxing and safe. The food on the boat was great and plenty of it to go around, I’d have no hesitation in recommending diving wih you guys.
Oh and it’s not true what they say about you, anybody that can spot the things you pointed out to me can’t swim around with their eyes cloesd. Also see attached some pics that I took whilst diving with you.
Cheers and I hope to be back soon.
Brendan.
You can have great day’s diving at all the mentioned sites with a choice of 3,4 or 5 days packages. If you like night dives tho and are more interested in 4 dives a day then another great way to experience the best the Andaman Sea has to offer is to join a Liveaboard Trip.
This year has been great as a lot of dive companies have kept there doors open all year round meaning you can dive anytime of the year weather permitting. Some smaller dive operators still continue to close and open with the main season which starts from November till May. This is when the seas are calm and the weather hot!
Chris a divemaster diving around Koh Ha
Koh Ha is a divers paradise with warm clear water and a lagoon area for people learning to dive and snorkel. It also deeper places to dive for the more experienced with caves and swim thru’s and many beautifull soft corals and an abundance of marine life.
In the green season after May till September you are almost gauranteed the dive site to you self. Also now in November you may see around 4 boats moored up where in the high season in December there may be as many as 15 boats moored up.
Koh Ha Lagoon with clear warm waters
This week in Koh Ha has been very special. I have met and dove with some great people to start with. Then I have been very lucky by finding 2 different Ghost Pipe Fish around 24 meters deep and 100 meters apart. But the biggest surprise was a 6 meter Whale Shark cruising by with around 15 Cobias in tow. When I realised at 19 meters deep I only had 20 bar left I decided to surface.
I did not have my camera this day but Brendan my buddy did so as soon has he sends me the photo’s I will post them here. We where the very lucky one’s of this day as we where the only 2 people to see the Whale Shark.
Please don’t make the same mistake as I did and always take your camera. Below are a few photo’s from this weeks diving around Koh Ha and some of the beautifull things you may get to see.
I have flown with AirAsia many times in and around Thailand. They are a low cost airline whose motto is now everyone can fly.
I was very excited then to hear they where going to fly direct from Kula Lumpur (KL) in Malaysia to London Stansted (STN). They finally launched the new schedule around March so I bought a ticket for October for 2 weeks costing me 18,000 Thai Baht.
Airasia now everyone can fly!
I live on Koh Lanta the South of Thailand and travelling to K.L is very easy You can either fly from Krabi Airport (KBV) or if you have a lot of time and want to save more money you can join the over night bus from Hat Yai. If you are in a different area of Thailand then there is also daily flights with Airasia from Phuket (HKT) or Bangkok (BKK). Obviously if you are thinking of a cheap flight to Thailand then using K.L is a perfect choice.
When I boarded the plane my first impressions where it is a new plane bought especially for this service. It was very clean and perfect. In the economy section they have 8 seats in a row, 4 seats in the middle and 2 on each side. I found I had enough room to recline my seat and be comfortable. The XL seats which are advertised are like first class. You can book your seats in advance and it is strongly advisable if you are a family or group of friends travelling together who want to sit together.
I booked food in advance which saves you another 20%. When booking you have the choice of English, Malaysian, Vegetarian or for Kids. On the long haul flights you are given 2 meals complemented with a free bottle of water. I choose Lasagna and Grilled Chicken Fettuccine. The food is not on a fancy plate or tray but comes served in its tin foil box. Knife and forks come with a napkin but no salt or pepper or tooth picks which again is a great way to keep costs down.
Make sure you keep your boarding pass as they check it off when your having food having food.
It is a long flight, between 12 and 14 hours depending which way you are flying. You can order food and drink from the on board menu. I chose a hot dog 9 Ringgits and coffee 6 Ringgits ( 150 Thai baht or 2.70 British Pounds ) Very cheap and Delicious. You can also order drinks like Tea , Pepsi, 7up, Ice Tea, Orange Juice, Ribena for 6 MYR, Red and White wine 187ml at18 MYR, Calsberg Beer 325ml 12 MYR and water costing 4 MYR.
Food is also plentiful with snacks like Chicken Mayo Sandwich 9 MYR, Cup Noodles 6 MYR or a main meal like Roast Chicken, Nasi Lemak,Chicken Briyani for 12 MYR. Paying with Malaysian Ringgits is best on the plane. If you try and pay with Pounds they will give you your change with Ringgits only and struggle with the conversion.
If you want to relax and sleep on the flight you can purchase a Comfort Pack for 35 MYR. This comes in nice draw string bag and includes a suede eye shade, neck pillow, woven blanket as is your to keep. I did not find it to cold and was O.K with my jumper but I still was not prepared for the 13 degrees London night air I would soon be exposed to.
Entertainment on the plane which includes the latest movies, TV shows, music and games is possible by renting a small T.V. You have to sign a contract and show your passport. The cost is 30 MYR ( 300 Thai baht or 6 Pounds) which is not bad for the latest movie. they accept cash and credit card on board all flights. The only bad things with this is they only have English music and movies.
When you arrive in K.L or London and are not sure how to travel you can ask a member of the Airasia cabin crew who will advise you on the bus and trains. You can even purchase your ticket on the plane which makes it very easy.
All in all I was very happy with the full service, no complaints from me. I was even very surprised when both my flights left on time!
Please take in to consideration all the above costs tho and also if you do not live near London Stanstead or Kula Lumpur what is your travelling costs to the airport and return? Although this is a super Low Cost flight for great value you may actually be paying more than you first thought with all the added costs.
Koh Lanta is a great family destination, where children can play safe, and there is some amazing activities to experience where kids will be left happy for hours. Below is a guide to some of the family fun on Koh Lanta.
Make new friends in the pool
Most fun will usually be found on Koh Lanta for free in a pool, on the beach or in the sea. Khlong Dao Beach is a favorite for families due to its shape it retains calm clear water that is not to deep. Accommodation on Lanta is varied so we have added a page to make it easy to view with the best hotels for families which include pools, play areas, child minding and cots.
Getting around Lanta on a motorbike with your family can be quite risky so why not take a one day tour by car. The Koh Lanta animal scenic tour is a perfect choice as it includes elephant trekking and monkey show and a visit to the national park. Children aged 4 to 12 years are half price and Kids under 4 go free.
Have fun with an Elephant on Koh Lanta
Although Koh Lanta has some pristine beaches it really does lack with snorkeling from the beach. How ever there are several one day tours by speedboat taking you to neighbouring Islands which make a great adventure for you and your family! Koh Rok with clear waters, great coral and abundance of marine life is a great day out snorkeling which will amaze kids. Koh Phi Phi Islands is another tour not to be missed which includes snorkeling and a visit to Maya Bay and a chance to shop or visit viewpoint with its breath taking views. 4 Island speedboat tour enjoy snorkeling at Koh Cherk and Koh Ngai with pristine clear waters, shallow colorful reefs and various aquatic life. Have lunch on the beach at Koh Kraden and visit Koh Mook and Emerald Cave where kids will be excited at swimming through an 80 meter long cave only lit up by the guides torch.
Children aged 4 to 12 years are half price and Kids under 4 go free.
Heading in to Emerald Cave
Koh Lanta has some of the best dive sites in Thailand. Going to see Nemo, having a Turtle swimming by or just simply checking out the beauitful colorful reefs and fish will give your kid a fantastic memory for life which they will be talking about it for a very long time.
For those who can not dive, you can enjoy in the fun!
Kids over the age of 10 ( and all the family ) can participate in a one day Scuba Diving experience called Discover Scuba Diving ( DSD) with a little briefing you will be able to experience the underwater world with your own Instructor who will stay with you ensuring safety and enjoyment.
If you have a little more time 3 to 4 days or would want to continue after the DSD then why not try an Open Water Course. Which will give you a full certification in diving.
If your children are under 10 then you can still join the boats when you go diving your kids can go snorkeling.
Find Nemo on Koh Lanta
Family fun Learning to dive at Koh Ha
What ever you do on Koh Lanta have a great time and remember to put the sunblock on!
On Koh Lanta you will find many great day trips and activities to enjoy in the day and some great restaurants and bars to kick back and relax in the night.
Sometimes tho traveling around you don’t have as much time as you would like to get the most out of the place you are visiting so below is a quick guide to Koh Lanta in a day! 24 hours to have fun in the sun with friends, family or on your own.
Paradise can be found on Long Beach, Koh Lanta
One day trips by speedboat
For those a little more adventourous Speedboat tours are a good way to see the beauty and shape of the Island whilst letting you also explore a neighbouring Island. For those who want to walk along pristine beaches and snorkel in clear waters Koh Rok Snorkeling Day Trip is best for you. If you have ever watched the movie the Beach and just wanted to be on the same beach with the breath taking views then you need to head to Maya Bay which is part of the Koh Phi Phi Speedboat Tour.Koh Mook (Emerald Cave) is part of the 4 Island Tour and enjoys the reputation as being of one of Thailand’s most breathtaking sights. The cave is reached by swimming single-file through an 80 meter long cave.The emerald cave has a small, pure white sand beach surrounded by high cliffs and many rare species of plants.
One day scuba diving trips
Koh Lanta has some of the best dive sites in Thailand with clear warm waters and a variety of marine life and corals to amaze every level of diver. One day trips can be taken by big boat where you have time to relax going to the dive sites or by speedboat. Trips to Koh Ha and Koh Bida are favourites where you may see a turtle, ghostpipefish, cuttlefish and leopard shark but for the more experienced divers trips to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are possible where maybe you get to see the Manta Rays playing.
Manta Rays can be found at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang
Short Video of diving around Koh Ha
If you can not dive then why not try the Discover Scuba Diving ( DSD ) this includes some tuition about the basics of diving, practising some skills which will make the experience safe and also 2 dives on some fantastic reefs. The Instructor stays with you all the time to ensure safety and fun.
One day Sailing Trips
You can enjoy a full day on board Lanta Sailing’s 32 foot yacht exploring the beautiful islands around Koh Lanta dropping anchor at the best spots so you can go snorkelling, swimming, or simply laze on the boat and enjoy the view.
One day trips by car
If you would like to discover Koh Lanta why not take a safe car tour of the Island. Koh Lanta Scenic Tour visits the far south of the Island to the national park and the famous lighthouse. Koh Lanta Sightseeing Tour includes Kayaking along the mangroves on the east coast. Both tours include elephant trekking in the morning and are great fun for everyone.
One day trips from Koh Lanta normally depart around 8:am and return around 4:pm depnding on the excursion please see the itenary on each page.
Time to relax Serentiy Massage and Spa found in Saladan is the perfect choice to unwind after any day trip. With a wide selection of massage and beauty treatments to choose from at affordable prices. After any treatment you will be able to relax outside on the private pier enjoying the amazing views.
Serenity Massage and Spa found in Saladan
Watch an amazing sunset
Koh Lanta is built mainly on the west coast of the Island. This gives you the perfect viewing for some spectacular sunsets from your resort, beach bar, hammock or whilst joining in a friendly game of beach football or volleyball.
One of Koh Lantas great sunsets.
Have a drink
Although Koh Lanta is mostly Muslim they do seem pretty relaxed about drinking with a few popular bars on the island. You will find a lot of beach bars and some of the best are the Koala Bar found on Khlong Dao Beach in the Ocean View Resort. Enjoy a cocktail at the Layana Resort which is just beautiful or head down to Khlong Nin Beach to the Blue Moon Bar. On the main road the Irish Embassy is a favourite run by Darren and Jay and the Barracuda which is Saladan’s only bar.
You have got to Eat!
Lanta has loads of great restaurants. From simple cheap and great tasting Thai food restaurants to International restaurants which serve Tapas, Pizza, Pasta, Steaks and Burgers. Not forgetting the amazing a ray of Seafood restaurants serving fresh fish, shrimps, lobster and crabs which can be found in Saladan or the along the beaches.
Check out:
The Tavern – for the biggest portions you will ever see in Thailand, be carefull when ordering the ribs. Always fantastic food here with a good choice on the menu of International favorites.
Catfish – this restaurant is positioned behind the Catfish bookstore found in Saladan. It is built on stilts above the sea and has got the best burgers in town.
Mr.Wee – they have 3 successful restaurants on Koh Lanta serving all Thai dishes but they are famed for there Pizza. I find the one on Long Beach is the best location and vibe.
Red Snapper – is found on the main road in Phra-Ae and is set in Lush tropical gardens. They have a great selection of Tapas but I always enjoy the Salmon here.
Time For Lime – you can enjoy learning to cook here with 2 classes a day but I really like to visit the small restaurant with breath taking views over Khlong Dao Beach and the ever changing menu with soem of the finest food on Lanta.
This Isan restaurant serving great Thai Food is found on Khlong Dao
Where is the party?
Unlike a lot of other Thailand’s destinations Koh Lanta’s party life is pretty chilled. The few clubs on the island have there own nights where you can dance till early morning or sometimes until the sun comes up. Check out the Ozone on a Thursday for some great beats where on a good night everyone is dancing on the bar and on the beach. The Opium bar normally has a party on a Sunday with the occasional free bbq. Whilst you are on Lanta you will find many flyers suggesting where the party is at.
Map of Koh Lanta
Here is AmazingLanta.com’s interactive map of Koh Lanta – click on the knife and fork icons to see information on Koh Lanta restaurants and the beds about hotels and the suns to read about the beaches.
Use the + and – buttons on the map’s top left to zoom in and out of the map. You can also drag the map area by clicking on it with your mouse and holding down the mouse button as you drag.
Obviously you will by know realising to enjoy Koh Lanta you can not do everything in a day. So why not change your plans a little and find time to enjoy more of paradise!
Rob:Serenity Massage and Spa has moved location. The shop is now based in Saladan the main shopping area of Koh Lanta.
Ning the owner is Budhist so she asked the monks if they could make a special blessing on this date to give good luck to the shop. 9 in Thailand is a very lucky number so what better date to open the shop then on the 09/09/09 and also it was Nings daughters (Baimon’s) 9th birthday,so a very lucky date all round.
Also it was a great day as many friends and family participated in the day.
Serentiy Massage and Spa Budhist Blessing
Ning the owner
Listening to the Monks chanting is very beautifull, unfortunately tho it seems the sound was not recorded on all my videos but strangely the videos before and after where O.K.
If you watch the second video you will notice all the Monks are holding string. This is so they are all joined and its so the luck will come together. The fist Monk you will also notice is burning a candle in to water which signifies the symbols of life and he splashes the water around the shop for luck.
You can find Serenity Massage and Spa’s new location on our interactive map of Koh Lanta. It’s marked with the green arrow and star. The shop is located in Saladan the main shopping area of Koh Lanta.
Finding the shop is easy as there is only one roda in to Saldan. As soon as you see the water in front of you and the police box turn right and Serenity is around 100 meters on the left.
There is no airport on Koh Lanta, so at the moment there are no Koh Lanta flights that arrive direct on the island. Instead, you can fly to Krabi Airport and then get a speedboat transfer or a taxi transfer onto Koh Lanta.
The taxi has to make two car ferry crossings to get onto the island, and so the transfer can take anywhere between 2 to 3 hours, depending on queues at the car ferries. See more info and pricing on our Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Taxi page.
The speedboat transfer is a lot faster – you take a 45 minute taxi ride from the airport to the speedboat jetty, and then have a 20 minute speedboat ride which brings you into Lanta’s main town of Sala Dan. You are then transferred to a taxi and taken direct to your chosen hotel. See our page Speedboat Transfer to Koh Lanta for more info and prices.
If you prefer, you can fly to Phuket Airport, and then go to Rassada Pier and make the ferry crossing to Koh Lanta. The ferry departs at 8am in the morning from Phuket which will probably mean staying overnight in Phuket the day before.
You can compares prices for Bangkok to Krabi flights and Bangkok to Phuket flights on Skyscanner.net and Kayak.com.
Rob: Wow what a cool date the ninth of September 2009 which is commononly written as 09/09/09. Living in Thailand the Thai people have 9 as there lucky number, Nine in Thai sounds like another word which means to go forward to progress like the next level.
Thai people love to celebrate and although the Budhist calendar is now 2552 they didn’t seem to mind using the excuse of borrowing the Christian Year of 2009 to make the date that more special and who can blame them as it is a special date.
For Baimon this was even made more special as she got to celebrate her 9th Birthday on this date. So what do you buy a Thai kid on her 9th Birthday??????
Well Grandma had the answer. A punch bag with some little red gloves. I know in the future I won’t be telling her when to go to bed!
All kids love birthday cake but one thing I did notice tho unlike the kids in England who enjoy ice cream and jelly these kids where tucking in to crabs and shrimps they where eating better than I do.
< Nudibranch with an amazing colour display
